Gamers React To 'Spore' DRM

Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, September 08, 2008 2:30 PM

PC and Mac game Spore has only been out for a few days, and gamers are weighing in with their opinions. While critical opinions of the game vary, gamers are close to unanimous on one issue: The game's Digital Rights Management.

Spore's DRM seems a tad ridiculous. Apparently, if you purchase the game, you can only install it on three computers without getting special permission from EA. Not only that, the activation is done on the internet, meaning that eventually, EA could shut down those servers and leave you with an unplayable Spore.

Making PC games is rough. On the one hand, it's easy to pirate things with your PC so you gotta have some protection, but on the other, treating your paying customers with suspicion can only result in angry people.

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Tags: PC Gaming, Videogames

Comment(s)

Posted by face0324 - Monday, September 8, 2008 2:55 PM

if people would stop pirating, then these kinds of security measures would never happen

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Posted by Rob124 - Monday, September 8, 2008 2:57 PM

Can you blame EA, since Spore origins is already available on the iphone and already cracked.. I know because I'm playing it right now

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Posted by FaMiCuS - Monday, September 8, 2008 2:58 PM

Way to go EA, good job hurting a great game.

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Posted by champ_super_novas69 - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:00 PM

a great game going down hill still want it lol

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Posted by LiquidSnake41 - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:07 PM

I passed up getting Spore just because of this garbage. People are going to find a way to pirate these games anyway. EA is making more people want to go that route with this insanity.

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Posted by Oinkness - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:13 PM

Oh, thanks for letting me know. Not going to buy it.

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Posted by nerdyguy - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:16 PM

This was all pointless anyway. It was already pirated before it even came out

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Posted by whatchel - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:22 PM

Pass.

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Posted by wildfire405 - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:25 PM

Spore's DRM doesn't bother me, but that damn EA Downloader was responsible for my computer blowing up. I kept getting error messages from the Downloader saying that it didn't have the permissions it needed. I allowed cookies from approved sites, and lowered my IE explorer security from 'uptight' to 'tight.' The EA downloader stopped complaining, but the rest of my computer blew up. Popups filled my screen, my wallpaper got changed, and my icon bar is filled with blinking virus warnings. Adaware, Spybot S&D, were unable to stop or remove it.

I don't make a habit of clicking around like a dumb internet monkey, and don't know where I picked up those bugs to begin with, but I get nothing but trouble from these 'always wants to run in the background' software. I wish game companies would just let things work right without a permanent cut of my RAM.

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Posted by Frankotaco - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:32 PM

wow. what a pain in the ass. i concur with so many statements made here so far. 1) pirating is gonna happen, period. you need to attack the thieves directly such as sweeping torrent sites or P2P networks...not accuse your paying customers of it. 2) doing this, will result in loss of sales and MORE pirating of the game, due to its just plain easier to pirate it then the disadvantages of buying it. if this keeps up the game industry is gonna be just as hated as the RIAA for its defensive measure being "every customer is a thief."

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Posted by Slash5150 - Monday, September 8, 2008 3:53 PM

"if people would stop pirating, then these kinds of security measures would never happen"

And if companies stopped charging idiotic prices for B rated games, people would stop pirating.

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Posted by Smartguy81 - Monday, September 8, 2008 4:12 PM

does the drm require an internet connection to install the game?

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Posted by cryfordawn - Monday, September 8, 2008 4:27 PM

F EA! When I heard this crap they were doing I stopped supporting EA all together. DRM sucks and when should I be punished for buying the software. Funny how all the limited editions on the shelf aren't selling at all, and the game really blows as it is.

All I gotta say is HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA EA!

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Posted by StrongestSaiyan - Monday, September 8, 2008 5:39 PM

The limit of three computers makes a certain amount of sense, but the idea that EA could just stop the activation process down the road seems terrible.

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Posted by slimmer - Monday, September 8, 2008 5:46 PM

Wonder what the actual numbers are for console games being pirated vs pc games ?
Which one gets pirated the most ?

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Posted by Korwyn - Monday, September 8, 2008 6:12 PM

thank you very much to let me know this info in advance before I unwrap both the game and the guide. I'm returning them both tomorrow and will download from bittorrent instead. I wasn't planing to support any illegel activity, as I got my game from best buy. But 3 activations, this is ridiculous I'm not buying their PC games any more, what a trash?

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Posted by Able - Monday, September 8, 2008 7:00 PM

I think you all need to stop sniffing glue.

I have the galactic version of Spore and i have no problem with the DRM.

For starters, How many computers are you intending to play the game on? Last i looked, most ppl only have 1-2 computers. Plus most hacked spore gamers cant get online for the big spore crature database, they would only be able to play with the creatures prepackaged or the ones made by you and saved on said comp.

As for the drm killing your comp Wildfire405, did you forget to tell your firewall to let the downloader through instead of turning down your internet settings. Just a thought.

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Posted by Able - Monday, September 8, 2008 7:06 PM

Look DRM is a companies way of protecting their product. If a person is such a cheap ass and cant afford a simple game and they have to get a hacked version then i guess i say keep doing it, but dont be surprized when the companies just stop making games alltogether from the lack of lost revenue.

But then again EA would not have the DRM at all if ppl would stop hacking the games. See its a 2 way street. Stop hacking the games to lower the price and the less hacking means no DRM, that simple.

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Posted by PhoenixFace - Monday, September 8, 2008 8:26 PM

I haven't had any problems at all, took 20 mins for install

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Posted by face0324 - Monday, September 8, 2008 8:36 PM

Slash5150

Agreed its a lose lose situation

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Posted by Korwyn - Monday, September 8, 2008 9:47 PM

there will alwyas be theifs no matter what. and with the DRM thing going on, who's paying? the customers who buy games from EA. Would those downloaders have to deal with any of this problem? no. I have a computer at home and at work, and about to get a new computer. Then that's it? I can no longer install this game in the future?
The definition of verb "to buy" is "to acquire the possession of, or the right to, by paying or promising to pay an equivalent, esp. in money; purchase."
but to be able to install the game 3 times sound to me more like "to rent" to grant the possession and enjoyment of (property, machinery, etc.) in return for the payment of rent from the tenant or lessee.
And $80 for renting a game is a rip off, I'm returning the game tomorrow

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Posted by Able - Monday, September 8, 2008 10:36 PM

@Korwyn

Did you know that if you did get a new computer and where not able to play it on the old one you can call customer service and they can reset your drm setting so that next time you start the game on the comp you have you will still have a freed up comp to put it on.

Besides most ppl cant play at work and most ppl dont have more than 1 computer so be glad they let you put it on 3 computers.

Also just be glad this wasnt some sort of MMO where you only play online.

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Posted by Shadowskill11 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 3:57 AM

This DRM does nothing but piss of paying customers. The RELOADED pirate version of the game was out last Tuesday, a week before launch. The game was cracked so the DRM does not affect pirates at all since any disc will work because of that cracked *.exe file. Like I said the DRM EA is doing will only anger paying customers and push people to discover pirate sites and illegal torrents as a way of getting around DRM on the game they bought and may not be able to use. The sad part is C&C: Red Alert 3 will use similar DRM.

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Posted by Scipio76 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 7:33 AM

The DRM really doesn't affect me that much, and I care about it just as much. I'm probably only going to install it a maximum of two times, and that's only if I wipe my hard drive. Sure, it is a terrible deal, and I could just pirate it for free and easier, but I think we should focus on the game and how it is. I think it's a great game, and the DRM shouldn't affect people's opinion about that.

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Posted by heaven_spawn - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 9:16 AM

3 computers? Wait, what if you uninstall it one day to make room in your HD, and then decide to put it back, and this happens more than once? does that count in the "3 computer rule"? Can they tell that it's still me?

Won't this game come out on consoles? Maybe I oughta hold out until then. I mean, I grew up on PC games and love them dearly, but this is making it hard to stay loyal to the good old mouse and keyboard.

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Posted by Peepers25 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 11:09 AM

The Sims Community has known and been speaking out against the use of Securom and DRM's since the Bon Voyage expansion pack came out. For more info about what this can do to your computer go here: http://reclaimyourgame.com/

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Posted by face0324 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 11:51 AM

they should just stop releasing pc games and they wouldnt have to bother with this sh^t

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Posted by PipChaos - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 5:52 PM

It absolutely amazes me how many people can say "what's the big deal?" I just can't believe there are so many humans on this planet that can actually be that clueless. Seriously, I'm speechless.... and you all scare the hell out of me. More than DRM ever could. Throughout history people like you have been responsible for atrocities, for loss of freedoms, for dictators rising to power, for slavery. Your inaction, uncaring, self centered, oblivious stick your head in the sand mentality disgusts me... completely. Thank god there weren't more of you when people complained about paying taxes to a crown that gave them no representation. "Oh, what's the big deal, it's only a few pounds, and I don't care about representation, it doesn't bother me".

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Posted by PipChaos - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 5:53 PM

sigh...

Here's the big deal, though I'd probably have better luck reasoning with a hunk of petrified wood.

1) DRM doesn't stop pirating. Period. End of story. Fat lady has sung. If it stops you, then you're an idiot... plain and simple, and shouldn't be using a computer that you've no doubt loaded up with trojans and spyware, because you don't have a clue about how to use it. In a few hours anyone could download a hacked copy of Spore, Bioshock, Mass Effect, etc.... all the DRM shackled games. So the main purpose of the DRM, right away, is absolutely defeated. So there's absolutely no point to it. Just ask Stardock. Thank god one company in the world has a brain.

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Posted by PipChaos - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 5:54 PM

2) Not sure why there has to be any more reasons than number 1, but here goes. YOU DON"T "LICENSE" GAMES THAT YOU BUY, YOU OWN THEM! Whew, that felt good. Despite what every software shop in the world would like you to believe, when you purchase that game, it's yours. You do own it. You can replay it, resell it, stick it up your nose, do whatever you want. You can even copy it! Yes! You have the legal right to copy it for backup purposes! Courts have ruled on all of this. They can't revoke your "license" to install and play the game. They can disable online features, but it ends there. Unfortunately, it's going to take more lawsuits to stop this behavior, and EA has deep pockets.

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Posted by PipChaos - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 5:57 PM

Bioshock had 3 activations, and many people had issues with the game crashing, had to do reinstalls, la la la... and used them up. People complained then, and there were voices that said "What's the big deal, I play this game fine, and it's only this game with this serious DRM, what's the harm, I've no problems, you overreact." Then along came Mass Effect. Whoa! Deja Vu! Now here we are at Spore. Same story, again...

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Posted by PipChaos - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 5:58 PM

I've had it. I'm putting my foot down. I'm not buying this game. I would have, but DRM killed it for me. I can't support this... and unlike when I pump gas into my car and hate myself supporting the oil industry... I CAN do something about this. I can NOT buy this game. It's really too bad. All those people worked so hard on it, and made something wonderful. And it does hurt me to not support them, and to not encourage more innovative and unique games to be developed buy purchasing this title. The truth remains that DRM is wrong. It is just 100% completely wrong. It's unjustified, oppressive, useless, and needs to become a footnote in history.

So that's the big deal.

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Posted by mercisan - Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:43 AM

At one point, I thought piracy was cool. Now I am mature enough to understand that it is not. Prices go up because of this. It's no different than stealing a copy of the game at Best Buy or any other retailer. You kids need to understand this.

Same goes for music downloads. Honest consumers end up paying for your thievery. Stop it!

@Slash5150

Do your homework on a game before you buy it. Or maybe buy a used copy of it. If you don't like it, places like Gamestop (I know, I know) let you return it if it wasn't new. Or rent before buying.

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Posted by Prydeless - Wednesday, September 10, 2008 3:55 AM

The way EA describes 3 separate computer install limit is a bit deceiving, as well as the simplicity of calling for an extra activation. Consider this scenario. You've only installed your game on only one computer. There goes 1 install credit. Afterwards you've changed a piece of hardware (and a lot of PC users do this periodically) so that takes up another credit. You won't know it's taken the credit because the DRM will contact the servers on its own. If you reinstall your OS (again a lot of PC users do this periodically) there goes another credit! Now if you do anything else in the future that requires an install credit, you'll have to call EA. What's the big deal right? Well, you'll have to pay to make that call because EA doesn't provide a toll free number! You may end up paying the same amount if not more for that phone call for 1 more activation than you originally paid for the game.

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Posted by Smartguy81 - Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:53 AM

I installed this game yesterday w/o a problem. I also did it w/o an internet connection and it installed fine.

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Posted by Soylentgreen - Monday, September 15, 2008 8:42 PM

It is not the install that will mess up your system (pc or MAC) it is when you try to remove the DRM from your system that it will get messed up.
It is often times worse then malware.
When some people uninstall the DRM it re-installs itself when you reboot.
It sends encrypted data from your computer to the server...and we don;t get to know what that data is....
It installs in your root directory and often messes up your firewall and antivirus (is suspended my firewall automatically -PC Tools firewall plus)

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